Yogyakarta, 2 October 2026 — The Master’s Program in Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy, Faculty of Ushuluddin and Islamic Thought, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, welcomed a benchmarking visit from the Master’s Program in Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy, Graduate School of UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi. The visit provided a forum for exchanging experiences and strengthening institutional networks, particularly in relation to the implementation of the three pillars of higher education: teaching, research, and community engagement.

The delegation from UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi consisted of three representatives: Prof. Dr. Risnita, M.Pd., Director of the Graduate School; H. Abdullah Firdaus, Lc., M.A., Ph.D., Head of the Master’s Program in Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy; and Dr. Jaya, S.Ag., M.Pd., Secretary of the Master’s Program. The presence of both graduate-school and program-level leaders enabled the discussion to address academic as well as institutional dimensions of program management.

The meeting focused on experiences in implementing the three pillars of higher education. In the area of teaching, the discussion addressed learning management and efforts to maintain academic quality at the master’s level. In research, the two programs exchanged views on developing a stronger research culture, involving lecturers and students, and exploring opportunities for academic collaboration. In community engagement, the discussion highlighted the importance of connecting expertise in Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy with societal needs and emerging socio-religious issues.

For the Master’s Program in Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, benchmarking activities of this kind are important because program development cannot rely solely on internal evaluation. Engagement with similar programs provides an opportunity to learn from practices developed at other universities, compare institutional experiences, and identify areas that can be developed collaboratively.

The visit also strengthened institutional relations between the two Master’s Programs in Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy. Through continued communication and exchange, both programs are expected to develop more concrete collaboration in teaching, research, community engagement, and other academic activities that contribute to the advancement of Aqidah and Islamic Philosophy as a field of study.